Rotary spray arm for a cleaning machine



P 22, 1959 G. J. FEDIRlGHl E'l AL 2,905,393

ROTARY SPRAY ARM FOR A CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS GEQRGEJZ FEDERIGHI BY ToR'E i-LNQREM TlE'rzL- I y-' ATTORNEYS P 1959 G. J. FEDERIGHI ET AL ROTARY SPRAY ARM FOR A CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w N 5 a m R Nmo vb E R VEN O mF T J T EE 2 A Y m G ROTARY'SPR'AY 'FOR A CLEANING George J.- Federighi and. Tore H..Noren, San Francisco, Calif.

7 Application March.14, 1 958, Serial No.\721,'546

7 Claims. (Cl. 239183) Thepresent invention relatesto improvements in: a rot-ary'spray arm-for a cleaning machine. It consists of the combinations, constructionsandarrangement ofparts, as hereinafterdescribed' and claimed;

In commercial dishwashing machines, the rotary arms- I in the washing. compartment receive wash water from a pump; which drawsits water from a reservoir'placed at the bottom of the compartment. Itis'e the general prac-- tice to provide a strainer for covering the top 015 the reservoir; but, in spite of thisstrainer; olive-pits, toothpicks and foodparticles pass therethrough and: are drawn:

b-y thezpump into: the water that isforcedinto the rotary spray arms. foreign m'atter clogs-the outletlnoz-zles.

ofi the. spray armsand makes them ineflicient The rotaryspray armsu'suallyare not turned by mechanical means,

but-irather the nozzles direct the issuing water at angles sozas'totcause the arms to revolve. It is quite apparent that) when the arms and nozzles becomeclogged 'with foreign matter, the arms will cease to rotate.

The conventional rotary spray arms are u'sually'formed from a unitary casting; and; if the nozzles become clogged, it is necessary to" remove the arms from the machine forcleanin'gzthem'.

ASithE-L cardinal object of ourinventi'on, We provide a:

rotary: spray arm for a cleaning; machine, which has:

covers provided'over access openings formed' in'thespray arnr bodiesg. whereby access may be had to the liquid passageways forrcleaning purposes.v Also, .when thecov'ers are removedflhe interiors of the'nozzlesimay beclean'e'd-i The cleaning operation may beaccornpli'shedlwithouti re movingrthe sprayarm from the machine. Although the rotary-"spray arnr is d'esignedi'primarily for use: in: dishe- Wa'shingr machines, it may be? used in. other types of cleam'hg' machines, wherein a liquid is projected against Gtherobjects and advantages Will= appear as the specifi cation proceeds. 'I'hernovel features 'Will'. be. set forth in the claimsrhercunto appended.

Drawings Forabetterunderstanding of our invention, reference should"he"ha'dto the accompanying drawings, forming.

part ofthis specification, in which:

Figure 1'- is a' top plan view of our rotary spray arm for a cleaning machine;

'Fi'g'nr'eZ' is a side elevational view thereof, with parts.

being shown in section to illustrate the mounting mecha-- nism .for the spray arm;

:Eigurej isaview similar. to. Figure 1, butwith-the coversremoved;

The attaching: means for thecoveirst- A 2,905,393 Patented Sept. 22, 1959 ice Figure 4 is amenlarged transverse sectional 'viewtakerr alongythe line IV-JV'ofFi'gure 2;

Figure 5 is an enl'arged topplanview ofi tlie'left hand portion of Figure 1-; and v v Figure 6" is a: longitudinal sectional view takema-lbng,

: the irregular liile of Figure 5. 1 I

;;bodies B is planed covers G are removably securedtoithe. spray arm bodies nozzle openings 29 communicate through the openings; with the passageways. D passagewaysD-may the outermost spray nozzles 28,

Although we have shown only the preferred form' of' ourinvention, it' shoul'd be under-stood that" variouschanges; or'modi-fications'; maybe made within the scope ofthe annexed claims without" departingfrom the spirit thereof. i

Detaileld description In -carrying' ourinvention into practice, W61.- provide a rotary spray arm indicated generally at'A, which-defines apair. of spray armr bodies B-thatextend noneradially from ae-oentral. hub portion. C. The spray armt'bodiest are identical-with one another and are formed integral: With each other.

Each' spr-aybody- B-ismade hollowwas to define a liquid-conveyingpassageway D extending; longitudinally thereof. Referringto Figures 2,, 5. and 6, it willsbe noted that thecentral hub portion C has a vertical hub sleeve 10' connected thereto by a plurality ofi spider arms 11:. and gussets- 12. Moreover, an. elbow fittingE seeeFigure 2). has: a rim- 14 that. projects upward'l-y intoqaz central" openingv 15 fashionedini-the lowerpart at ther'spray. arm: hodiesB, Also, a boss-16- is provided on-theinterion of theelbow fittingEinto which-a vertical journahshatt 17" is .threaded, as at 18. The journal shaft coincides-withe the. vertical axis. F aboutwh-ich thespray arm A ise rotated.

The shaft 1.7projcctsnpwardlyin-the hub slices/e510,.witlrv a Bushing. 19 beinginterposed: therebetweenr, "llhusthe':

spray armA is. mounted for rotation about the placed; this.

The incoming waterv for the rotary: spray? arm Anis deev liveredthrough the/inletpassagcway 24' oftheelbow fittingz E by means: 015 a pump (notshown),.. This water flows. under pressure through. the passageway D of eac'lrof thespray arm bodies.B,. as suggested.-

the. arrows: 25* irr.

Figure- 6 of. the drawings Thevpump drawst its: water: from a-reservoir (not shown) intthe. conventionalimanner.

Asshown inFiguresZ, 3. and. 6, eaclr of thesprayrarrm bodies B is fashioned with a longitudinal opening 26 at! its top, which gives. access. to the passageway D for. cleaning purposes.

so. as to; beperfectly flat; Aipairi of.

B and enclose the openings 26. Each cover G is fashioned with a plurality of spray nozzles: 28, each nozzle having at least one outlet opening 29 for liquid. Thespray 26- in: the spray arm bodies whereby liquid flowing through the be discharged through the nozzles 28.

In Figures 1 and"5',' we show certain openings29it inwhich openings are. in.- clinedrel'ative to the vertical. through these particular openings, under pressure, the.

spray arm A-will be causedtoiturn in the direction-ofthe arrows-30 due to the reaction of the liquid as it leaves the nozzles.

Each spray arm 'hody B'has anouter'endiprovided with a hook that projects toward the axis of rotation F, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and6 ofthedtaW- mgs.

an upstand Y The top surface. 27- ofv thespray .As liquid is discharged;

Thezouterend ot each cover G'- is? provided with a'"f locking tongue filgwhich is disposed toeiigage underneath: the hook 31 adjacent thereto for securing the outer end of the cover G to the spray arm body B over which the particular cover is applied. As an important feature, the covers G- are slidable 1 along the flat top surfaces 27 of the spray arm bodies B so that the covers G willbe urged by centrifugal force toward the hooks 31 as the spray arm bodies are turned about the axis F.

At the outer ends of each of the spray arm bodies B, the locking tongue 32 thereon is provided with a pair of spaced-apart projections 33 (see Figure These projections are disposed to straddle the hook 31 associated therewith and to contact the hook ,to position the outer end of the cover G with respect to the spray a-rm body B and for preventing lateral movement of the tongue 32 with respect to the hook 31. In Figure 6, it will be observed that the tongue and the hook have tapered upper and lower surfaces, respectively. These surfaces are complimentary and taper in directions to wedge the covor G against the spray arm body B, when the cover is urged outwardly relative to the spray arm body by centrifugal force, as the spray arm A is rotated about the axis F.

A pair of spring-loaded keppers H engage with the inner end portions of the covers G to removably anchor these ends of the covers to the spray arm bodies B. As shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, the inner end of each cover G is fashioned with a key-hole slot I therein. Each slot defines an enlarged portion 34 having a restricted portion 35 extending therefrom toward the axis F (see Figure 5). A pair of indexing bolts K are anchored to the tops of the spray arm bodies B, each having a head 36 dimensioned to pass through the enlarged portion 34 of one of the slots I, when a cover G is being applied to or removed from a spray arm body B. Moreover, each bolt has a shank 37 dimensioned to enter the restricted portion 35 of the key-hole slot I, when the cover G is moved outwardly along the spray arm body B.

With particular reference to Figure 6, it will be noted that a keeper H has been shown as having a washershaped head 38, the latter being positioned to abut an upper surface 39 of the cover, when the shank 37 is disposed in the restricted portion 35 of the key-hole slot I. A compression spring 40 encircles the shank 37 of each bolt and bears against the head 36 of the bolt and the washer-shaped head 38 of the keeper to yieldingly urge the latter against the upper surface 39 of the cover. Each bolt K is threaded into a threaded bore 41 in the spray arm body B (see Figure 6) for up and down adjustment of the bolt. The keeper H is provided with a sleeve 42 that surrounds the shank 37 of the bolt K and projects downwardly from the washer-shaped head 38 of the keeper H to protect exposed threads 43 on the bolt against damage, when the cover G is being applied to the spray arm body B or removed therefrom. Both of the indexing bolts K and the spring-pressed keepers are identical with one another.

Summary Assuming that the rotary spray arm A is mounted on the journal shaft 17 in the manner shown in Figure 2, the covers G may be readily applied to the spray arm bodies B as follows:

The cover G is advanced downwardly against the top surface 27 of one of the spray arm bodies B, with the head 36 of the indexing bolt K passing upwardly through the enlarged portion 34 of one of the key-hole slots J, until the cover G comes to rest on the arm body B. At this time, the spaced-apart projections 33 at the outer end of the cover G should be positioned so that they will straddle the hook 31, when the cover G is moved outwardly along the surface 27. As the locking tongue 32 passes under the hook 31, the tapering surfaces of the tongue and hook will urge the-outer end of the ooverG into liquid-tight relation with the top surface 27 of the spray arm body B. During this outward sliding movement of the cover G, the sleeve 42 on the spring-loaded keeper H will pass into the restricted portion 35 of the key-hole slot 1. The spring 40 will press down on the washer-shaped head 38 of the keeper, thus urging the inner end of the cover down against the upper surface 27 of the spray arm body B. The other cover G may be applied in a like manner. Both covers will then enclose the longitudinal openings 26 of the spray arm bodies. I

When the liquidis forced th-rough'the inlet elbow fit= ting B, it will flow into the passageways D, and will issue through the openings .29 and 29a, causing the spray arm A to rotate in the direction of the arrows 30 (see Figure 1).

As previously pointed out, the passageways D and the nozzles 28 often become clogged, such as by olive pits and food particles. The covers G may be readily removed, thus giving access to the passageways and the interior of the nozzles 28 for cleaning purposes. No tools are required for this purpose and the spray arm A need not be removed from the journal shaft 17.

The various parts may be made of any suitable material to prevent corrosion, and we do not wish to be limited in this respect.

We claim:

1. In a rotary spray arm for a cleaning machine: a spray arm body mounted for rotation about an axis; the spray arm body having a liquid-conveying passageway extending longitudinally thereof; the spray arm body being fashioned with a longitudinal opening giving access to the passageway for cleaning purposes; the spray arm body having an outer end provided with a hook.

projecting toward said axis; a removable cover disposed to enclose the opening, and having an outer end provided with a locking tongue, which is disposed to engage underneath the hook to secure the outer end of the cover to the spray arm body; the cover being slidable along the spray arm body so that the cover will be urged by centrifugal force toward the hook as the spray arm body is rotated about said axis; the cover having an inner end; and means removably securing the inner end of the cover to the spray arm body; the cover being fashioned with spray nozzles, which communicate through the opening in the, spray arm body with the passageway, whereby liquid flowing through the passageway may be discharged through the nozzles.

2. The rotary spray arm for a cleaning machine, as defined in claim 1; and in which the tongue is provided with a pair of spaced-apart projections, which are disposed to straddle the hook and contact therewith to position the outer end of the cover with respect to thespray arm body and for preventing lateral movement of the tongue with respect to the hook.

3. The rotary spray arm for a cleaning machine, as defined in claim 2; and in which the tongue and the hook have tapered upper and lower surfaces, respectively; these surfaces being complimentary and tapering in directions to wedge the cover against the spray arm body, when the cover is urged outwardly relative to the spray arm body by said centrifugal force.

4. In a rotary spray arm for a cleaning machine: a spray arm body mounted for rotation about an axis; the spray arm body having a liquid-conveying passageway extending longitudinally thereof; the spray arm body being fashioned with a longitudinal opening giving access to the passageway for cleaning purposes; the spray arm body having an outer end provided with a hook projecting toward said axis; a removable cover disposed to enclose the opening, and having an outer end provided with a locking tongue, which is disposed to engage underneath the hook to secure the outer end of the cover to the spray arm body; the cover being slidable along the spray arm body so that the cover will be urged by centrifugal about said axis; the cover having an inner end; and a spring-loaded keeper engaging with an inner end portion of the cover to removably anchor this end of the cover to the spray arm body; the cover being fashioned with spray nozzles, which communicate through the opening in the spray arm body with the passageway, whereby liquid flowing through the passageway may be discharged through the nozzles.

5. In a rotary spray arm for a cleaning machine: a spray arm body mounted for rotation about an axis; the spray arm body having a liquid-conveying passageway extending longitudinally thereof; the spray arm body being fashioned with a longitudinal opening giving access to the passageway for cleaning purposes; the spray arm body having an outer end provided with a hook projecting toward said axis; a removable cover disposed to enclose the opening, and having an outer end provided with a locking tongue, which is disposed to engage underneath the hook to secure the outer end of the cover to the spray arm body; the cover being slidable along the spray arm body so that the cover will be urged by centrifugal force toward the hook as the spray arm body is rotated about said axis; the cover having an inner end; the inner end of the cover being fashioned with a key-hole slot therein; said slot defining an enlarged portion having a restricted portion extending therefrom toward said axis; an indexing bolt anchored to the spray arm body, and having a head dimensioned for passing through the enlarged portion of the slot, when the cover is being applied to or removed from the spray arm body; the bolt having a shank dimensioned to enter the restricted portion of the slot, when the cover is moved outwardly along the spray arm body; a keeper mounted on the shank of the bolt, and having a washer-shaped head positioned to abut an upper surface of the cover, when the shank is disposed in the restricted portion of the slot; and a spring encircling the shank and bearing against the head of the bolt and the washer-shaped head of the keeper to yieldingly urge the latter against the upper surface of the cover; the cover being fashioned with spray nozzles, which communicate through the opening in the spray arm body with the passageway, whereby liquid flowing through the passageway may be discharged through the nozzles.

6. The rotary spray arm for a cleaning machine, as defined in claim 5; and in which the bolt is threaded into the spray arm body for up and down adjustment therein; the keeper being provided with a sleeve surrounding the shank of the bolt and projecting downwardly from the washer-shaped head of the keeper to protect exposed threads on the bolt against damage, when the cover is being applied to the spray arm body or removed therefrom.

7. In a rotary spray arm for a cleaning machine: a spray arm body mounted for rotation about an axis; the spray arm body having a liquid-conveying passageway extending longitudinally thereof; the spray arm body being fashioned with a longitudinal opening giving access to the passageway for cleaning purposes; the spray arm body having an outer end provided with a hook projecting toward said axis; a removable cover disposed to enclose the opening, and having an outer end provided with a locking tongue, which is disposed to engage underneath the hook to secure the outer end of the cover to the spray arm body; the cover being slidable along the spray arm body so that the cover will be urged by centrifugal force toward the hook as the spray arm body is rotated about said axis; the cover being fashioned with spray nozzles, which communicate through the opening in the spray arm body with the passageway, whereby liquid flowing through the passageway may be discharged through the nozzles; the nozzles having interiors that are exposed for cleaning purposes, when the cover is removed from the spray arm body; and means removably securing the inner end of the cover to the spray arm body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,737,257 Mersels Nov. 26, 1929 2,286,203 Fox June 16, 1942 2,317,014 Yochem Apr. 20, 1943 2,576,982 Walker Dec. 4, 1951 

